Spring



L. H. TIMMONS SPRING Original Filed Aug. 5, 1922 sept. 16, 1924. 1,508,487

ATTORNEY Patente Sept. i6, i924.,

are atrae JT. SAY Hl TONS, 0F DES MOINES, IOWA, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE- .r n ro anonce n.

FROST, OF DES MOINES, OWA.v

seance.

original application led August 3, 1922, Serial No. 579,490.

' 2, 1924. Serlal No.

To all whom t mail concern Be it known that I, LINDsAY H. TIMMONS, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa, have invented a new and useful Spring, of which the following is a specification.

The subject matter of this application was formerly included in and was divided from my application filed August 3, 1922, Serial Number 579,490.

The principal ob]ect of this invention is to provide improved means for limiting and minimizing lateral vibrations ofthe frame and body carried thereon, relative to the axles of an automobile, with consequent limiting and minimizing of friction and wear of artsas well as comfort to the occupants.

further object of this. invention is to provide improved'means whereby the ran e of vertical vibration of an axle and whee s,

' or either of them, is materially enlarged or lengthened Without noticeable reaction on the lframe or body. of an automobile, thus permittin the use of such automobile on very roug choppy and transversely rutted roadways without noticeable vertical vibration, 'arring or jolting of the frame or body, avoiding a large amount of blows of the load on the tires of the wheels and materially increasing the life and usefulness of said tires.

A further object of this invention is to provide a relief spring (in any desired number, auxiliary to the main spring or springs between the axles and load ofan automobile), and connections including a rolling contact member between said relief sprin and the main spring or springs where y risk or danger of breakage of the main spring or springs under impact, reaction or torsion is minimized or eliminated.

A further object of thisinvention is to provide an improved construction for automobile platform springs' whereby shackles are omitted and a cross-connection is substituted for each of them including a rolling contact .member and confining or stirrup members.

A further object of this invention is to provide improved means for connecting a.

Divided and this application med February 690,115.

' hammock or semi-elliptic spring to the rear horns'of'lan automoblle frame.

A .further object of this .invention is to provide improved means for connecting a semi-elliptic spring at its ends to the rear ends of side semi-elliptic springs of an automobile, whereby lateral vibration of the frame and body relative to the side springs is minimized or eliminated.

A further object of this invention is to provide improved means for connecting the rear ends of side sprin to the rear ends or horns of the frame of an automobile, by end semi-elliptic springs placed back to back, connected nivotally 1n their central portions by a rolling contact member and connected at their ends to the side springs and horns respectively, producing a three' point suspension for the rear end of the vehicle. f Y

My invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of elements hereinafter set forth, pointed out in the claims and illustrated by the accompanying drawing, in Which- Figure 1 is a bottom plan view, ure 2 a side elevation, of the rear end portion of an automobile frame showing my improved spring assembly applied thereto. Figure 3 is a rear end view of the same, on an enlarged scale. Figure 4 is an elevation, partly in section on-the line 4-4 of Figure 3. Figure 5 is a vertical section on the line 5-5 of Figure 4. Figure 6 is a vertical section on the line 6-6 of Figure 2. Fi ure is a vertical section on the line 7 of and Fig- Figure 5. Figure 8 is a vertical section on the line 8-8 of Figure 1. Fi ure 9 is a cross-section on the line 9-9 o Figure 3. Fi ures 4 to 9 inclusive are on an enlarged sca e.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary rear View showing a modified form of platform spring construction. f

In the construction of the machine as shown the numerals 10, 11 4designa-te side bars of an automobile frame of common construction, which are suitably and rigidly connected by cross-bars 12 spaced apart, one of which is shown in Figure 1. ach side bar 10, 11 isV formed'with an arched horn l 13 at its rear end, the upward arching thereof providing space for upward movement of a rear axle such as 14: across the-horizontal lane of the major portions of said bars. Viylhe side bars 10, 11 and cross-bars 12, including the horns 13 and other 'members not herein shown, are sometimes referred to as the frame and said frame is adapted to support 'a body, motor, lhood, step-boards, skirts, fenders and other parts and accessories desired to be used in and on an automobile, parts being1 omitted that do not relate intimately to t e present invention. The front springs and their connections to the frame, by means of special relief-springs, are illustrated, described and claimed in my parent application above rev erred to.

Bear side springs 15 16 are arranged beneath and substantially parallel with thearched portions 13 of the side bars 10, 11.

The side springs 15, 16 are semi-elliptic in form and of laminated type and are arched downwardly in opposition to the upward arching of the portions 13. rllhe uppermost leaf 15 of each side spring 15, 16 is formed on its forward end with an eye 15 (Fig. 6) pivoted on a transverse bolt 17 carried in a horizontal position by brackets 18 secured to and depending from ythe side bars 10, 11, and a bushing or roller 19 prefereye and confined at its ends by portions o said brackets. The bushing or roller 19 ably is pivoted on said bolt within sai i preferably is barrel-shaped, that is tapering in diameter from its central portion toward both ends. rllhs shape and arrangement of the bushing insures contact of the eye therewith at all times, in the central or widest part when the spring is in its normal horizontal position, and at one end or the other o f said bushing when lateral strain at one side or the'other induces a torsional movevment of the spring, and this adaptability of the contact removes strain and lessens f the chances of breakage to the parts when such torsional movement occurs.

.F.nd springs 20, 21, of semi-ellipticform and of laminated type (Fig. 3) are placed back to back, spaced apart at their centers and i pivotally connected. A lower member 20 of the uppermost spring is formed in its central portion with parallel spaced, downwardly extending ears 20., and an upper member 21 of thel lowermost spring is formed in its central portion with parallel spaced, upwardly extending ears 21 received between the ears 20, connected by a central pivot bolt 22. Loosely mounted on the bolt 22 and confined at its ends by the ears 20 and 21" is a barrel-shaped roller 23 or rolling contact member, contacting in its wider central portion with the opposed faces of the members 20 and 21 and adapted to contact at times at its rea torsiona ortions with said members, when or twisting :movement causes either/ofthe springs 20, 21to be moved out of their normal parallel relations. 'llhe ends of. the upper spring leaf 21a of the lower spring are arched outwardlyand up- Wardly', at 24, 25, outside of the usual spring clips 26, and then, turn upwardly and loosely contact the lowerl surface of end portions of the lowermost member 20 oit the upper spring. Thus a rocking,- resilient connection is provided between the upper spring 20 and 'lower spring 21 which absorbs and relieves shocks, jars and relative movement of running gear and frame or body, permitting torsional movement vand twists without damage or breaking of the springs. 'llhe springs 20, 21, connected substantially as shown, constitute a relief-spring assembly for the rear end of the frame and car body. rll`he spring 21 is connected at its ends to and is carried by the rear 'ends oit the rear side springs 15, 1'6; and the 'spring 20 is connected at its ends to 4and in turn caries the rea-r ends or horns 13 of the .frame ars.

The uppermost leaf 15' of each side spring 15, 16' is formed with an eye 2'? and a retainer 28, of yoke form, is mounted-in straddlin relation on and extends across the top ot each eye (Figs. 4 and 5). A rolling contact member, 29, is carried loosely in the central portion of the bar or body of the retainer 28 and rests on the eye 27. A bolt 30 extends loosely through the eye 27 and through the arms of the retainer 28 and a stirrup 31 is mounted on the inner end of each bolt. rllhe stirrup 31 is somewhat wider than the adjacent arm of the retainer 28 and is formed with side anges 31between which said arm is received; and said arm is shorter than the opposite arm and the a bottom `Harige or lip 31 extending beneath the shorter arm and engaging the adjacent end of the retainer 28. 'llhestirrup' 31 is formed with a transverse slot 31 overlapping and extending above the top of the retainer 28 and the lowerinost two leaves of'the spring 21 extend at their ends through said slots in two spaced stirrups- (Fig. 3). The lowermost leaf 21" oit the spring 21 extends'at each end across a retainer28 and rests on the ball 29 and is formed with an end flange 21" overlapping the outer end and arm of the retainer. The leair 21" havinganges 21. on its opposite ends embracing the spaced retainers on opposite side springs 15, 16, the spring 21 tends to prevent undue separation orxspreading of the .rear ends of said side s rings; et there 1s a space between each o the en flanges 21 and the adjacent wall of the retainer which permits some freedom of movement by canting, twisting-er torsion ofthe side in this instance a ball A -the bolt or eye or leaf end in use,

springs without binding or cramping the same and the end portions of said leaf ride on the balls 29 whereby endwise movement of said end portions of the leaf relative to the spaced retainers, under rise and fall of the center of the end spring, is permitted. Similarly the them, will roll on and transversely of the lower face of the end portions of the leaf 21 under endwise movement of the rear endsof the side springs 15, 16 due to vertical vibration of the eyes 27. It is not likely that at any time the inner wall of either eye 27 will contact with the bolt 30, or that there will be any noticeable wear of owing to the elimination of the ordinary shackle arrangement and the substitution therefor of the rolling contact devices. r'The lsecond leaf 21m of the spring 21 extends at its ends nearly to the ends of the leaf 21" and through the slots 31' in the stirrups 3l and is formed near eachend with a transverse struck-u spaced fiom the concaved crown 33 of a stirrup. Suitable packing strips 34, of material such as felt, may be interposed between the ribs 32 and crowns 33 and be supplied with oil to lubricate the` bearing ,at that point and prevent rusting and corrosion thereof. The inter-relation of the ribs 32 and crowns 33 permits some endwise movement of the end portions of the leaf 21 p through the stirrups 31 coincident with similar endwise movement-of the ends of the leaf 21 in rolling contact with the balls 29.

The rear ends of the honnsl13 are turned downwardly and are formed with inwardly opening recesses 35 shown in Figure 8, within which the'opposite ends of the upper two .leaves 20', 20 of the upper spring 20 project. The upper two leaves 20', 20 are of substantially the same length and of considera-bly greater length than the lother leaves ofthe spring 20. and the second of said leaves, 20, rests at ends on bolts 36 extending across therecesses 35 in a direction longitudinally of the body 0f mitted in the recesses 35, when the the vehicle. At it ends the leaf 20 is formed with downturned portions 20a curving partially around but spaced from Athe bolts 36. Between the uppermost leaf 20 and thetop wall of the recess' 35 is mounted a rolling contact member 37, .such as a barrel-shaped roller similar to those previously described, and the end of the leaf 20 is formed with an upturned portion .20b curving partially around but spaced from said roller. Thus some longitudinal movement of the leaves 20', 20 is perspring 20.is lengthened orshortened by vibration in use, saidleaves moving freely and withl a minimum of frictionbetween the bolts 36 and rollers 37, and the oppositely curved balls, or either ofv rib 32 extending within and portions 20, 20J serve to limit such movement and prevent accidental removal of the leaves from between said bolts and rollers. The shape of the rollers 37 permits some torsional movement of the 'spring without undue strain. or danger of breakage as previously described, and its limit of travel is defined by a'groove 35 formed in the top lwall of the recess 35.

In Figure 10 a modied construction is shown in which the uppermost platform spring 20 is omitted and in lieu thereof a rigid bar 38 is transversely arranged and rigidly connected at its ends with, or integrally formed on, the rear ends of the frame bars 10, 11 or horns 13. The lower spring 21 is employed as previously described, and its spaced ears 21 are pivotally connected by a bolt 39 to similar spaced ears 38 formed on and extending downwardly from the central portion of the bar 38. Mounted 'on the bolt 39, and contacting the upper member 21 of the spring and the lower surface of the bar 38, is a barrelshaped roller 40, which has the same function as dpreviously described. The use of the rigi bar 38 as a cross member in connection with a spring21 provides somevv but not all of the advantages of the full "platform type, and is 'a declded advantage over the construction wherein the ordinary spring shackles are employed.

The provision of the "platform springs at the rear, pivotally connected at their centers and flexibly connected at their ends respectively to the side springs and to the frame horns, produces in effect a threeoint suspension means` for the rear` end o the vehicle; and undue rolling thereof in rounding corners and the like may beprevented by the4 commonly" used snubbers (not shown).

I claim as my invention;

1. 1n a spring construction, the combination with a frame and rear axle, of rear side springs carried by said rear axle and pivoted to the frame at their forward ends, and rear end springs connected substantially at their centers and extending across the rear end of the frame andv the rear ends of said side s rings, one of said rear end springs pivotal y connected at its ends to the rear ends of the frame and the other rear end spring overlapping the rear endsr of the side springs, and rolling contact portions, one of said members being cone nected at its ends to the rear ends of said frame bars, the other of sa1d members overtral portions, the lowermost ot said trans,

verse members being a .laminated vsemielliptic spring having its ends overlapping' the rear ends of the side springs, the other transverse member being connected to the rear ends of the trame bars, and rolling contact members interposed between said overlapping end portions of the springs.

d. The combination with trame bars and side springs beneath and pivoted at one end each to said bars, of a rear end reliei2 spring comprising two transversely arranged members arranged one above the other, said members being formed in their central portion with overlapping ears, a bolt pivotally connectin said ears, a barrel-shaped roller on said gbolt adapted to engage both of said members, one of said members being connected at its ends to rear ends of the frame bars, the other of said members being a springk overlapping and slidably connected at its ends to the rear ends of the side springs.

5. ln a spring construction, the combination of side frame bars, side springs beneath and pivoted at their -forward ends to said bars, and a relief spring connecting the rear ends of the bars and side springs, which relief spring consists of laminated semielliptic end springs arranged back to back and pivotally connected in their central portions, the uppermost end spring being slidably connected at its ends to thevrear ends of said frame bars, the side. springs being formed with eyes on their rear ends, end portions of the lowermost end .spring overlapping said eyes parallel with the openings therein, and a, rolling contact member interposed between said eyes and the overlapping end portions of said end spring. A,

6. .lin a spring construction, the combination of side frame bars, side springs beneath and Ipi'voted at their forward ends to said bars, and a relief spring connecting the Arear ends or" the bars and side springs, which relief spring consistsboiv laminated semi-elliptic end springs arranged back to back and pivotally connected in their central portions, the lowermost end spring overlapping rear end portions of the side springs and slidably connected therewith, the frame bars being formed with inwardly opening recesses at theiry rear ends, two leaves of the uppermost end spring projecting within said recesses, one ot said leaves resting on a bolt ertendlng through said recess and the other leal? being spaced from the top wall of said recess, and a rolling contact member interposed between the last named leaand the top wall of the recess.

7. The combination or a side formed with an eye and a reliere spri arranged substantially at right angles to the side spring and formed with an end portion overlapping said eye parallel with the opening therein, and a rolling contact member between and contacting with said eye and the spring portion overlapping the same.

8. 'lhe combination ot a side spring formed with an eye and a relief spring arranged substantially at right angles to the side spring and formed with an end portion overlapping said eye and also formed with a down-turned dange, a bolt loosely mounted through said eye, a retainer carried by said bolt and loosely embracing said eye and partially embraced by said lange, and a rolling Contact mcarried by said retainer between and contact with said eye and spring end.

9. The combination of a side spring formed with an eye and a relierE spring arranged substantially at right angles to the side spring and having its ends overlapping said eye and also formed with a. downturned flange, a boltloosely mounted through said eye, a retainer carried by said bolt and loosely embracing said eye and partially embraced by said'flange, a rolling contact member in said retainer, a stirrup carried by said bolt and formed with a slot traversed by the. danged spring end, and exible connections between said relief spring and stirrup.

l0. vllhe combination of two side springs each formed with an eye on one end and a relief spring arranged substantially 'at right angles to and having its end portions overlapping the eyes of said side springs, and also formed with end anges extending toward and outside of said eyes, bolts loosely mounted through said eyes, retainers on said bolts loosely embracing said eyes and conjunctively embraced and held against separation by said end danges, rolling Contact members in said retainers between and in contact with said eyes and spring ends, stirrups on said bolts between and transversely ofsaid eyes and spring ends, said stirrups being :formed with slots traversed by said spring ends, and flexible connections between said stirrups and spring ends.

il. A member having an eye, a bolt loosely mounted therein, a retainer on said bolt embracing said eye, a ball in said retainer resting on said eye, a stirrup on said bolt formed with a slot, a spring having two leaves ertended through said slot, one leaf on said ball and formed with an end flange adapted to engage said retainer at times, the other leaf being formed with an offset por; tion entering a concave in said stirrup.

12. A spring having an eye, another spring overlapping thereon and formed with a member spaced from said eye, a rolling contact member interposed between the' first eye and the curved member, a bolt in said eye, and a retainer on said eye engaging said rolling contact member.

13. A member having an eye, a bolt loosely mounted therein, a retainer on said bolt having one arm of less length than the other, a ball in said retainer adapted to roll on said eye, a stirrup on said bolt having a flange adapted to extend beneath the shorter arm of the retainer, said stirrup being formed with a slot, a spring having two leaves extended through said slot, one of said leaves resting and adapted for travel on said ball. and formed with an end flange overlapping and adapted to engage said retainer at times opposite to the stirrup, said stirrup being formed with a concave facing said spring and the other leaf of' the spring being formed with an offset entering said concave.

14. In a device of' the character described, the combination with `a frame member, a bracket secured toand depending from said frame member, and a bolt carried in a horil zont-al position by and extending across said bracket, of a spring formed with an integral eye on'one end extending within said bracket and arranged concentric with and spaced from said bolt, and a bushing interposed between said bolt and eye, said bushing being formed with a bore adaptedto receive said bolt and also formed with a barrel-shaped periphery adapted to contact variously with the inner surface of Said eye, the sides of the bracket limiting endwise movement of said` bushing.

15. The combination of a side spring formed with an eye and a relief spring arranged substantially at right angles to the side springand having its end portion o verlappin said eye, a yoke-shaped retalner partial y embracing said eye, a -bolt loosely mounted through said eye and retainer, and a ball carried by said retainer and in contact with said eye and overlapping spring end.

16. In a spring construction, the combination of side frame bars formed with inwardly opening recesses, side springs bef said bars, and a relief spring connecting the rear ends ofthe bars and side springs, which relief spring consists of laminated semielli tic end springs arranged back to back an pivotally connected in their central portions, the lowermost end spring overlapping rear end portions of the side springs and flexibly connected therewith, rigid members extending across the recesses of said frame bars, two leaves of the upeprmost end .spring projecting within said recesses at their ends and resting on said ri id members, and a rolling contact mem er interposed between the upermost of said leaves and the topwall of the recess, said leaves having their ends oppositely curved partially around but spaced from said rigid member and rolling contact member respectively.

17. The combination of two side springs each formed with an eye on one end and a relief spring arranged substantially at right angles to and having its end portions overlapping tlie eyes of said side springs and flexibly connected thereto, said relief spring comprising two transversely arranged semielliptic springs arranged back to back, said members being formed in their central portions with overlapping ears, a bolt pivotally connectiugsaid ears, a barrel-shaped roller on said bolt adapted to contact both of said members, the other of said semi-elliptic springs being connected at its ends to the rear ends of the frame bars, the uppermost leaf of the lower semi-elliptic spring being arched outwardly at its ends and engaging the lower surface of the upper semi-elliptic spring at points spaced from said pivot bolt.

18. In a device of the character described, means for connecting a leaf spring for articulation and lateral oscillation relative to a channeled member supported thereby, comprising an integral eye on one end of said spring adapted to enter the channel of said member, a bushing mounted loosely in said eye and formed with a barrel-shaped periphery adapted to engage the inner surface thereof and also formed with a central longitudinal bore, and a supporting and connecting device mounted in said bore and extending through the sides of the channeled member. v

Signed at Des Moines, in the county of Polk and State of Iowa, this 22d day of January, 1924. 'l

LINDSAY H. TIMMONS. 

